April is Autism Awareness Month

The increasing rate of autism should be everyone’s concern, not just those who have a family member with the diagnosis. At the present rate, 1 in every 59 children is diagnosed with autism. There is a spectrum according to the severity: those on the high end of the spectrum are able to function independently while those on the lower end require constant care and supervision. Any child could receive the diagnosis regardless of socioeconomic class, color, or religion. Anyone who feels it is not “their problem” may one day be in for a big surprise—if that person does not have a child with autism, then a sibling’s child, a niece or nephew’s child, or a grandchild could have this developmental disorder. Therefore, autism should be everyone’s concern.

National Autism Awareness month concept with puzzle or jigsaw pattern on heart with autistic child’s hands supported by nursing family caregiver

The following is a list of questions people may have. I will
try to answer them as clearly and succinctly as possible.

Q. What is autism? According to the website Autism Speaks (https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism), “Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication.” As every individual is unique, autism affects each person differently.

Q. What are some telltale signs of autism? Signs include

Repetitive behaviors like hand flapping,
rocking, jumping

Inability to make eye contact

Speech difficulties

Repetition of words (echolalia)

Inability to participate in social interaction

Sensitivity to sounds, smells, and tastes

Trouble understanding the feelings of others

Agitation with schedule changes

Unusual mood patterns, sleep difficulties

Hyperactivity

Fixation on particular topics

Limited attention span

In my novel True Mercy, one of the main
characters is an eighteen-year-old man with autism named Adam. I include many
characteristics of autism in my portrayal of Adam like hand lapping, rocking, echolalia,
sensitivity to smells, unusual mood patterns, and fixations on certain topics.

Q. When do signs of
autism appear in children?

According to Autism Speaks, signs of autism may occur from
the first few months of life to as late as 2 or 3 years old.

Make eye contact,
such as looking at you when being fed or smiling when being smiled at

Respond to his or
her name, or to the sound of a familiar voice

Follow objects
visually or follow your gesture when you point things out

Point or wave
goodbye, or use other gestures to communicate

Make noises to get
your attention

Initiate or respond
to cuddling or reach out to be picked up

Imitate your
movements and facial expressions

Play with other
people or share interest and enjoyment

Notice or care if
you hurt yourself or experience discomfort

Q. What can parents do
if they notice these signs?

If a parent notices their child has developmental delays, it
is vital they seek the advice of their child’s pediatrician to find out if
testing is needed. The earlier the diagnosis, the sooner the child can receive
early intervention, which is critical for the child to make gains in their
development. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the therapy that has proven to
help children with autism make significant improvements.

State
laws requiring insurance coverage
of ABA therapy (points were weighted based on age limit, coverage limit, and
types of insurers required to provide services)

If a state is part of
the ADDM Network (Autism and
Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, which estimates the number of
children living with autism and other developmental disabilities in various
places in the United States).

Multiple grants available for this state.
**Can’t exceed the cost of treatment allowed under the Affordable Care Act
(ACA).
***Must start treatment before age 9.

Idelle Kursman is
the author of True Mercy,
a thriller designed to bring awareness to two issues: families coping with a
loved one with autism and the human trafficking crisis. True Mercy is
for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IngramSpark, and Smashwords.